What are somethings I can do???

Question

My daughter is 3 and I want her to go to pre-school but I don't really have the extra money. The schools out here are cost so much!

What are somethings I can do, does anyone have any advice??

Answer 1

Don't you think three years is a little young to be sendintg your child out to school?

Answer 2

Where is "here" and have you checked with the local public school district? Many of our districts (most, I think) in Missouri offer preschool as well as K-12.

Otherwise, I would suggest purchasing a book and CD set: Music and Movement in the Classroom (there are 2 volumes, one for Pre-K and K, the other for Grades 1-2) that have lots of great songs kids like to sing and move to and there are little lesson plans in the books to help you figure out how to use them. Little guys need to move rhythmically, act out imaginative "plays," and learn songs that teach them letters, numbers, counting, etc. And watch one or two (NOT many!!!) shows designed for preschoolers. Choose one or two that you can enjoy together, watch with her and talk about what's going on, then TURN THE TV OFF and let her play, color, draw, etc.

Every time she picks up something, ask her what color it is, what it is, connect it to a book you both like to read together, ask how many she has and help her count...PLAY with her! :D

Have fun! That's how she learns - play IS her work at this age.

I usually don't like to see a child go to preschool at 3 unless they absolutely have to. 4 is early enough to get ready for Kindergarten and we're already taking so much of their childhood away from our kids these days. I'm a big advocate of exploration learning until then.

Answer 3

If it's unaffordable, you can still accomplish some of what preschool accomplishes by doing a few things:

1) Organize play dates with other children regularly so that your child can learn how to work with/share with/talk with different kids.  If you can set up some regular times with other people, you could potentially move to a rotating schedule where one parent takes care of several children by herself for a couple of hours one day and the next week a different parent does the same thing.  That parent could organize some activities, give you a break and get your daughter used to an environment where you are not there constantly.

2) Organize themed days where you have some outing (to a park, the zoo, even the museum) and then do something crafty related to that event and then maybe read something related (e.g., visit the zoo, read a book about elephants like you saw in the zoo, make an elephant out of a paper plate and construction paper, make up a zoo dance or sing an animal song incorporating the noises they make).  Preschools tend to organize several days around a particular theme like that.

3) Set a morning schedule that you stick to (and refer to so that she knows that, for instance, 10:00 is book time and 10:15 is outside time, 11:00 is clean-up time, etc.).  If you're good at scheduling, then you can schedule more of the day that way, but a couple of hours is a good start.

4) There are some great activities that are free in most cities, including NY.  Check the public library first -- there are almost always specific toddler activity times at least weekly.  Also, if you can afford it, there are some great private music or gym or dance or art classes that may accustom your child to the group classes and broaden her experience in those areas.  You can check "Music Together", "Gymboree" or the "Little Gym" or "My Gym" or maybe find an actual gymnasium that offers preschool classes, and there are a number of dance academies in NY that offer ballet or other types of dance class for children starting at 3 years.

5) Finally, just going out for walks or to the park and talking about what you see and talking with other people is helpful, in my experience.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I thought those were supposed to be free? I know the elementary schools here in CA have preschools built on the side and its a public preschool. If they charge there, I sugggest you move or make sure you checked every nearby school. look in the phone book under preschool maybe there will be hidden ones.

Answer 5

um maby try babysitting. charge about 30 bucks a day.

Answer 6

I am so surprised that westchester did not get any money from the New York state budget this year. They allocated money to public preschools so that more can go and yes for free. I would check your local public school system to see where you could go. there may be a waiting list so I would get on it

Answer 7

YES, IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT YOUR LITTLE ONE, YOU NEED TO GOTO GOOGLE AND SIMPLY TYPE IN FREE WORKSHEETS FOR PRESCHOOLER.  ALSO KNOW THAT GOING INTO KINDERGARTEN SHE NEEDS BASICS LIKE HAND EYE CORDINATION LARGE AND SMALL  MOTOR SKILLS SO COLORING BOOKS AND AALOT OF SONG AND DANCE.....IMPORTANT FOR SOCIAL SKILLS.

Answer 8

Since the pre- schools cost to much money you can home school your 3 year old daughter. Good luck!

Answer 9

See if you are qualified for Head Start. If not, your school district may have a pre-k she could attend at 4.

Answer 10

headstart - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/hswe...

a church or synagogue pre-school program

parent cooperative pre-school programs

pre-schools offerred through local colleges and/or universities that have degree programs in early childhood and use these as practicum sites.

Ask about federal and/or state or county aid for childcare

Financial aid available through private childcare providers

YWCA's often offer pre-school that can be less expensive than private pre-schools.

Answer 11

Do you stay at home with her? There are tons of free or cheap learning "fieldtrips" you could do with her. Go to the park and observe bugs and plants. Talk a lot about what you see. Look for science experiments that you could do at home, like mixing colors. Go to the library (many of them have storytime activities for young children). Go for a hike. Cook something.

Answer 12

If you want things that you can do with her, then you can work on her recognizing the letters in her name.  Do puzzles with her, read to her, make play-dough, and play it with her.  You can play games with her.  Take her to the park so she can socialize with other children.